PATIENTS' RIGHTS

Memphis Health Center, Inc. (MHC) supports the Patients' Bill of Rights adopted by The Joint Commission and has abstracted the following principles for its patients.

Memphis Health Center, Inc. patients have a right to:

1. Considerate and respectful care
2. Receive, upon request, the name of the person in charge of your care
3. The name and function of any person providing services to you
4. Obtain from the person responsible for your health care, complete and current information concerning your diagnosis, treatment, and expected outlook in terms you can be reasonably expected to understand. When it not medically advisable to give such information to you, the information shall be made available to an appropriate person on your behalf
5. Receive information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment, except in emergency situations. The information shall include, at a minimum, an explanation of the specific procedure or treatment itself, its value and significant risks and an explanation of other possible treatment methods
6. Refuse treatment and to be informed of the medical or other consequences of your action
7. Privacy to the extent consistent with adequate medical care. Case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discretely
8. Privacy and confidentiality of all records pertaining to your treatment, except as otherwise provided by law or third party payment contracts
9. A reasonable response to your request for services customarily rendered by the facility and consistent with our treatment
10. Expect reasonable continuity of care and to be informed, by the person responsible for your health care, of possible continuing health care requirements following discharge, if any
11. The identity, upon request, of all health care personnel and health care institutions authorized to assist in your treatment
12. Refuse to participate in research. Human experimentation affecting care or treatment shall be performed only with your informed consent
13. Upon request, examine and receive an itemized explanation of your bill, regardless of source of payment
14. Know the facility's rules and regulations that apply to your contract as a patient
15. Treatment without discrimination as to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, source of payment, political belief or handicap.
16. Expect that reasonable efforts will be taken to accommodate the rights of non-smoking patients
17. Expect appropriate assessment and management of pain; and
18. Expect safe, welcoming, well-maintained, and comfortable surroundings that control environmental hazards and risks and prevent accidents and injuries.

PATIENTS' RESPONSIBILITIES

1. The patient will keep to the best of their ability all appointments scheduled on their behalf. Patients should be on time or call MHC as soon as they are aware that they will not be able to keep their appointment. Please leave valuables at home and bring two forms of identification (and proof of income, if new patient) to each visit
2. The patient will provide adequate information concerning medical history and past hospitalizations to MHC personnel directly involved with their care. Bring all medicines on each visit
3. The patient will ask questions on any instruction or explanation that he/she does not understand
4. The patient will follow to the best of their ability all reasonable instructions prescribed by the physician and those working under the physician's direction. If the patient feels that they will be unable to carry out instructions, immediate notification should be given to the physician or other clinical personnel
5. The patient has the responsibility to show consideration for other patients and personnel by following all MHC rules and regulations, especially those pertaining to general conduct; and
6. The patient will provide information concerning the ability to pay for services. Please provide information for insurance billing purposes and work with MHC personnel to arrange prompt payment of your bill.

If you believe that you have been denied any of your rights without cause or without proper procedure, please call the Quality Assurance & Risk Manager at (901) 261-2000.